Middle East Ticker Netanyahu accepts Trump's invitation to the "Peace Council" +++ Demonstrations against Syrian government in Swiss cities

On October 7, 2023, terrorist commandos of the Islamist Hamas attacked Israel, massacred the civilian population and kidnapped more than 240 people. Israel responded with a military operation in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The developments in the ticker.

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7.39 am

Netanyahu accepts Trump's invitation to the "peace council"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted US President Donald Trump's invitation to participate in the so-called Gaza Peace Council. This was announced by his office on Platform X.

לשכת ראש הממשלה:

ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו הודיע כי הוא נעתר להזמנת נשיא ארה״ב דונלד טראמפ, ויצטרף כחבר במועצת השלום העליונה שתורכב ממנהיגי מדינות העולם.

— ראש ממשלת ישראל (@IsraeliPM_heb) January 21, 2026

The "Peace Council" is part of the second phase of Trump's peace plan for the coastal region, which has been largely destroyed by the war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas. This provides for a permanent end to the war and the disarmament of the terrorist organization, which it rejects. However, there are indications that the US government would like to greatly expand the Council's mandate and that the "Peace Council" should deal with crises and conflicts worldwide.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 4.05 a.m.

Demonstrations against the Syrian government in Swiss cities

Unauthorized demonstrations against the Syrian government took place in Bern, Winterthur ZH and Basel on Tuesday evening. In Bern, numerous people demonstrated, set off pyrotechnics and attacked a police barricade at the Lorraine Bridge. The police used irritant gas and rubber bullets and stopped three people, as they wrote in a statement. Around 300 people gathered in Winterthur. In Basel, around 500 people marched through the city center and staged a sit-in on streetcar tracks, according to the police. A streetcar was damaged and a passenger was injured in the head.

Wegen einer unbewilligten Demonstration kommt es am Hauptbahnhof Winterthur momentan zu Verkehrsbehinderungen. ^pa

— Stapo Winterthur (@StapoWinterthur) January 20, 2026

Monday, January 19, 2026, 4 a.m.

Syrian president postpones visit to Germany

The Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa has postponed his visit to Germany planned for Monday and Tuesday at short notice. This was confirmed by a spokesperson for the German government to the German Press Agency. The reason was the domestic political situation in Syria.

Al-Sharaa was actually due to meet Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and several federal ministers and business representatives on Tuesday. The main topics were to include the repatriation of Syrian refugees and the reconstruction of the Arab country after almost 14 years of civil war.

Violence had increased again in Syria in recent days and there had been new military confrontations. On Sunday, the government of interim President al-Sharaa agreed on a ceasefire with the Kurdish-led militias in the north. An "immediate and comprehensive ceasefire" applies "on all fronts" between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the government troops, the state agency Sana quoted from the agreement. However, there was initially no confirmation or reaction from the SDF.

Sunday, January 18, 2026, 6:39 a.m.

Israel angry over occupation of Gaza committee

Israel is angry about the White House's appointment of an important international supervisory body for the Gaza Strip. The announcement regarding the composition of the so-called "Gaza Executive Board", which is subordinate to the "Peace Council", was "not coordinated with Israel and contradicts its policy", according to a statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has instructed Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to contact his US counterpart Marco Rubio on this matter.

Netanyahu is obviously offended by the fact that the committee includes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and senior Qatari diplomat Ali Thawadi. Turkey and Qatar had sharply criticized Israel's war in the Gaza Strip against the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas. Technically, the Gaza Executive Council and another executive committee are subordinate to the "Peace Council", which is made up of leading politicians from around the world and will be chaired by US President Donald Trump. However, the executive committees will be more directly involved in overseeing the post-war administration in Gaza.

Asked about Netanyahu's objections, a senior US official told the US news site Axios: "This is our show, not his show. We have achieved things in Gaza in the past few months that no one thought possible, and we will continue." Netanyahu had not been consulted on the composition of the executive committee because he had no say in the matter. "He should concentrate on Iran and leave Gaza to us. We will not argue with him."

The "peace council" is part of the second phase of Trump's peace plan for Gaza, which envisages a permanent end to the war and the disarmament of the terrorist organization Hamas, which the latter rejects. The international body is to oversee the new transitional government, consisting of Palestinian technocrats, of the coastal strip, which was largely destroyed in the war. According to Trump's own statements on Friday, several heads of state and government have been invited to participate in this "peace council". Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was among those who received an invitation.

Saturday, January 17, 2026, 6:50 a.m.

Tony Blair takes on role for transition in Gaza

US President Donald Trump has appointed former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to a committee tasked with implementing the goals of Trump's "peace council" in the Gaza Strip. According to the White House, the founding executive board also includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, World Bank President Ajay Banga, US businessman Marc Rowan, Trump adviser Robert Gabriel as well as Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and US special envoy Steve Witkoff. The committee is to manage the reconstruction and administration of the Gaza Strip, which has been extensively destroyed by the war.

The second phase of Trump's peace plan, previously announced by the US government, is intended to lead to a final end to the war. It also provides for the disarmament of the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas, which it continues to reject. On Thursday, a newly formed transitional government consisting of 14 Palestinian technocrats, who are said to have no connection to Hamas, met for the first time in Cairo. The Bulgarian and former UN Middle East envoy Nikolai Mladenov is to oversee the implementation of Trump's peace plan in the coastal region in future as a representative of the "Peace Council".

He will act as a liaison between the "Peace Council" and the technocratic government on the ground, the White House announced. Another executive council for the Gaza Strip will be set up to support them, it said. In addition to Witkoff, Kushner and Mladenov, Blair is also a member of this committee. Under the ex-prime minister, British troops took part in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq alongside the USA. The Iraq mission in particular caused a great deal of domestic criticism at the time.

Friday, January 16, 2026, 4.21 a.m.

Trump: Oversight body formed for Gaza transitional government

The international supervision of the transitional government in the Gaza Strip is in place: US President Donald Trump announced the formation of the corresponding supervisory body. The "Board of Peace" has been formed, the Republican wrote on the Truth Social platform, pointing out that the names of the members would be announced soon. Trump chairs the Board of Control.

The members of the transitional government were recently announced - 14 Palestinians who are said to have no connection to the Islamist Hamas. The body is to assume all tasks and responsibilities in the Gaza Strip, which has been largely destroyed in two years of war. According to Israeli sources, the Bulgarian and former UN Middle East envoy Nikolai Mladenov is to become part of the "peace council". The name of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was also mentioned in media reports.

On Thursday, the new technocratic government of Palestinian experts for Gaza met for the first time in Cairo under US-Egyptian auspices, as reported by the pro-government Egyptian media outlet "Al-Qahera News". Technocrats are members of government who take office primarily on the basis of professional qualifications and experience rather than party political affiliation. Such governments are often used in transitional or crisis phases to organize administration and public services professionally.

Part of the second phase of the peace plan announced by the USA is the disarmament of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The Islamist terrorist organization has agreed to the establishment of a government of apolitical experts without Hamas connections. However, it continues to reject disarmament. Furthermore, Hamas has not yet fulfilled its obligations from the first phase. This includes the handover of all hostages still in the Gaza Strip. The mortal remains of an Israeli hostage are still there, however.

0.01 am

UN accuses Israel of apartheid - Israel rejects criticism

The United Nations Human Rights Office accuses Israel of increasing systematic discrimination against Palestinians in the West Bank. "Whether it is access to water, school, going to hospital, visiting family or friends, or harvesting olives, every aspect of Palestinian life in the West Bank is controlled and restricted by Israel's discriminatory laws, policies and practices," said UN Human Rights Representative Volker Türk. The trend has even accelerated.

"This is a particularly severe form of racial discrimination and segregation that resembles the apartheid system we already know," Türk said, referring to a new report by the UN Human Rights Office on the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Apartheid is the name given to the doctrine of separating individual ethnic population groups, especially in South Africa until 1994.

🎤 West Bank emergency: Israeli must end ‘apartheid’-like system, says @UNHumanRights chief Volker Türk
🎤 Ukraine: The deadly reality of delivering aid in a war zone @WFP
🎤 Uganda elections must be free and fair, say @UN_SPExpertshttps://t.co/N0AHyDICzR

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) January 7, 2026

Israel rejected the criticism as absurd and distorted. Its UN representation in Geneva stated that fundamental facts underlying the conflict, in particular the serious threats to which Israel was exposed, were being completely ignored.

In 1967, Israel conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where today more than 700,000 settlers live in the midst of around three million Palestinians. According to international law, the settlements there are illegal. The situation there became even worse with the start of the Gaza War in October 2023.

The report by the UN Human Rights Office also states that systematic discrimination against Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories has long been a problem. The situation has deteriorated drastically since at least December 2022. The Israeli authorities treated Israeli settlers and Palestinians living in the West Bank under two different legal and policy frameworks.

Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 4:54 p.m.

Further unrest in western Iran

Heavy protests have broken out again in western Iran as night falls. Riots broke out in the predominantly Kurdish province of Ilam on Tuesday, as activists reported on social media. At a funeral for demonstrators who had been killed, mourners in the city of Malekshahi shouted protest slogans against the authoritarian leadership of the Islamic Republic. "Death to the dictator" could be heard in videos.

Since the start of the protests more than a week ago, Iran's state power has been much tougher in the provinces than in the metropolitan areas. According to human rights activists, at least 29 people have been killed in the unrest so far. The demonstrations were triggered by the severe economic crisis. However, the protests are now openly directed against the authoritarian rule of the Islamic Republic.

Yemen: Government brings separatist areas under control

The Yemeni government, supported by Saudi Arabia, has regained control of a large part of the separatist-held areas in the east of the country. The areas in question are the oil-rich province of Hadramaut on the border with Saudi Arabia, including the provincial capital of Mukalla, and parts of the province of al-Mahra, as dpa has learned from Yemeni government circles. Both provinces make up around half of Yemen's territory.

The areas had been under the control of the so-called Southern Transitional Council (STC) since December, which was supported militarily by the United Arab Emirates until December 30. In recent weeks, the STC separatists had seized large areas in the east of the country, which also border Saudi Arabia, putting Riyadh under pressure. The United Arab Emirates, which is actually allied with Saudi Arabia, then announced the withdrawal of its troops on December 30.

13:32

Protests in Iran become increasingly violent

The nationwide protests in Iran continue and are becoming increasingly violent after eight days. According to eyewitnesses, there were clashes in the capital Tehran between demonstrators on the one side and police and security forces on the other. Slogans such as "Death to the dictator" could be heard.

The demonstrators also made reference to the recent events in Venezuela, where US forces captured head of state Nicolás Maduro in an attack on Saturday. "You're next", chanted some demonstrators. Several protesters were arrested and taken away in minibuses, according to eyewitnesses.

According to eyewitnesses, there were dramatic scenes in front of the former municipal theater in the center of Tehran. Demonstrators ignored the police's request to leave the area immediately. Officers then used batons against the crowd, many of whom were young women. Some participants in the protests were dragged into minibuses and taken away, while others sought shelter from police and security forces in nearby stores.

According to the Norwegian-based human rights organization Hengaw, at least 17 people were killed in the first seven days of the protests. More than 500 people were also arrested. The information is based on social media reports and statements by human rights activists abroad. They cannot be independently verified. The Iranian government does not publish precise information.

1.23 pm

Netanyahu expresses solidarity with protests in Iran

In view of the ongoing protests in Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his solidarity with the Iranian people and spoken of a possible turning point: "It is quite possible that we are at a moment when the Iranian people are taking their fate into their own hands."

Netanyahu also spoke of his "historic visit" to the USA and a "very important summit" with US President Donald Trump. At the meeting on Monday, the two also discussed the issue of Iran. "We reaffirmed our common position: zero uranium enrichment on the one hand and, of course, the need to remove the 400 kilograms of enriched material from Iran and to control the facilities under strict and genuine supervision," said the Israeli head of government.

From the perspective of the Jewish state, the Islamist leadership in Tehran is threatening Israel's existence with its possible plans to produce nuclear weapons.

Sunday, December 4, 2026 - 2:00 a.m.

British and French air force attack IS in Syria

The British military, supported by the French air force, has attacked a facility of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia in Syria. The British government announced on Sunday night that a joint attack had been carried out on an underground terrorist facility north of the ancient site of Palmyra. Guided bombs were used to destroy access tunnels to the facility, in which IS is "most likely" storing weapons and explosives. Initial evaluations indicate that the operation was successful.

7.15 p.m.

Renewed unrest in Iran - eyewitnesses: dead

According to eyewitnesses, there have been violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces in the west of the country during the ongoing unrest in Iran. Eyewitnesses in the province of Ilam reported several dead and just as many injured in the small town of Malekshahi. Several demonstrators were also arrested.

According to the eyewitnesses, the speech by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei may have encouraged the security forces to take tougher action against the demonstrators in Ilam. In his first statement on the protests on Saturday, Khamenei rejected any dialog with the "troublemakers" and called for strict measures to be taken against them.

As the authorities do not provide exact figures on arrests and deaths, the reports on social media and the available statements from eyewitnesses cannot be independently verified. However, the police speak of an "armed uprising" that must be consistently combated.

Eyewitnesses in the capital Tehran also reported a new wave of arrests against the demonstrators. Violent protests and clashes with police and security forces are said to have taken place again, particularly in the city center and near Tehran University. Arrests are also reported to have been made.

Saturday, January 3, 2026 - 7:20 a.m.

Emirates complete withdrawal of their troops from Yemen

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has completed the withdrawal of its soldiers from the civil war country of Yemen. The Ministry of Defense announced on Platform X that all units of the armed forces had been repatriated, as reported by several media outlets in the country.

The civil war in Yemen, which has been going on since 2014 and in which countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as the UAE, want to assert their interests, has flared up again in recent days.

The UAE, which supports the separatists of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), has actually been allied with Saudi Arabia for years in the fight against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The Huthi control large parts of the north of the country, including the capital Sanaa. The official government in the civil war country, which in turn is supported by Saudi Arabia, is very weak.

Recently, the UAE has increasingly pursued its own interests in Yemen. In recent weeks, the separatists they support have taken over large areas that also border Saudi Arabia, which has put Riyadh under pressure.

On Tuesday, the actual allies clashed dangerously when a military alliance led by Saudi Arabia bombed the port of the Yemeni city of Mukalla and accused the Emirates of supplying weapons and vehicles to the separatists there, which Abu Dhabi rejected. At the same time, the UAE announced the withdrawal of its remaining units. It initially remained unclear how many soldiers were involved.

On Friday, the STC separatists declared their intention to hold a referendum on the "self-determination of the south". The vote was intended to give the inhabitants of the south the right to decide on their political future. The separatists have long been striving to separate southern and eastern areas from the north of the country.

Yemen was already divided from 1967 until reunification in 1990. An independent South Yemen would probably further intensify the regional competition between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, for example over strategic ports, energy exports and trade routes.

23:20

Reports of new protests in Tehran

Protests against the Iranian leadership have reportedly returned to the capital and metropolis of Tehran.

There were riots in the southern district of Nasi Abad, as reported by activists and users on social media. Videos online showed people marching through the streets and shouting slogans against the leadership of the Islamic Republic. Some pictures showed burning garbage containers. The authenticity of the footage could not initially be verified.

Protests reportedly continued in other parts of the country. The state news agency Irna also reported on demonstrations in Ghom, Marwdasht, Mashhad and Hamedan, among other places. Violent riots and clashes between security forces and demonstrators have recently occurred, particularly in the countryside. According to human rights activists, at least ten people have died so far.

7.45 pm

Angelina Jolie visits the border crossing to Gaza

US actress Angelina Jolie has visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing to the Gaza Strip. At the Egyptian Red Crescent, she gained an overview of the ongoing aid measures for the sealed-off coastal strip, according to the aid organization.

Jolie was received by the responsible governor. He accompanied her on her tour. Arab media reported that a representative of the US State Department was also present.

According to the information, she helped to pack aid supplies for Gaza in a symbolic gesture. Jolie thanked Egypt for its efforts. She also praised the crucial role of volunteers and staff in the efficient organization and distribution of aid despite the many challenges.

14.58

Yemen: Attacks in the south fuel fears of escalation

New attacks in the south of Yemen are fueling concerns of a further escalation in the civil war country.

Saudi fighter jets have attacked positions of the separatists of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) supported by the United Arab Emirates in the province of Hadramaut, an STC spokesman told the German Press Agency (dpa). Seven people were killed or wounded, it was reported.

Civil war broke out in Yemen in 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia violently took over the north, including the capital Sanaa. Neighboring Saudi Arabia sees its own security threatened by the Huthi and began bombing militia targets with allies, including the United Arab Emirates, in 2015. The aim was to support the Yemeni government and push back the influence of the Houthi - and therefore Iran - in the country.

The Emirates are increasingly pursuing their own interests in the conflict and have been supporting the STC separatists for years, who are seeking to secede southern and eastern areas from the north of the country. In recent weeks, the separatists have seized large areas in the east, which also border Saudi Arabia, putting Riyadh under pressure.

13:09

Israel attacks several targets in southern Lebanon

The Israeli military says it has attacked several targets in Lebanon. The army targeted Hezbollah facilities in several areas in the south of the neighboring country, the military announced.

An area used for training by an elite unit of the Iranian-backed militia was also hit. Another target was a building used by Hezbollah as a weapons depot.

Local media reported dozens of attacks, but there were initially no reports of casualties. Eyewitnesses reported seeing fighter jets over the capital Beirut. According to the Lebanese news agency NNA, fighter jets were also spotted in the east of the country.

Friday, January 2, 2026 - 9:53 a.m.

Protests for the sixth day in a row - Trump threatens Iran

US President Donald Trump has intervened in the protests in Iran, which have been ongoing for several days, and threatened to intervene.

A harsh reaction from Iran followed promptly. "Trump should know that US interference in this internal affair would destabilize the entire region," wrote Ali Larijani, Secretary General of the Iranian Security Council, on the X platform. Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to the state leadership, also warned on X with drastic words: "Any intervening hand that approaches under the pretext of security will be cut off.

For the sixth day in a row, people are once again taking to the streets in Iran. It is the largest wave of protests since the nationwide uprisings under the slogan "Women, Life, Freedom" around three years ago. It remains to be seen how the protests will develop and how many people will join the demonstrations in the country of almost 90 million people.

Thursday, January 1, 2026 - 2:16 pm

Israel revokes the license of dozens of aid organizations

Despite protests, Israel has revoked the licenses of dozens of international aid organizations. The Israeli authorities have demanded registration for their work from 1 January 2026, which many organizations reject as illegal.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they must permanently cease their activities by March, including activities in the Gaza Strip, which has been largely destroyed by the war between Israel and Hamas. This affects 37 organizations, including Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, described Israel's actions as "outrageous". The Israeli Foreign Ministry had explained that the registration was intended to "prevent the involvement of terrorist elements and protect the integrity of humanitarian work".

5.44 a.m.

Netanyahu sees future for Gaza - without Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes a stabilized government in Gaza is possible in the new year. "If we disarm Hamas, whether with an international force or by other means, then I see a different future for Gaza," Netanyahu told US broadcaster Fox News. That was the only remaining step. It was not a question of negotiating with the Islamist Palestinian organization. Hamas' task was "to disappear, to cease to exist. And you know who wants that more than anyone? The people of Gaza."

Following a meeting on Monday with US President Donald Trump in Florida, Netanyahu had announced that Trump would receive the Israel Prize - the country's highest honor, which has never been awarded to a person without Israeli citizenship. Trump was to be honored for "his outstanding service" to Israel and the Jewish people.

5.42 pm

Netanyahu sees many similarities with Trump on the West Bank

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sees himself on the same page as US President Donald Trump with regard to peace efforts in the region. Both sides agree on the desire for peace in the region, Netanyahu told US broadcaster Fox News when asked about possible differences of opinion with Trump regarding the Israeli-occupied West Bank. "It's a partnership of like-minded people and leaders."

On Monday (local time), following a meeting with the Israeli prime minister, Trump, when asked whether Israel's actions in the West Bank, including settler violence, were undermining his goal of stabilizing the Middle East, had said that the Israeli prime minister and he did not agree "one hundred percent" on the West Bank issue. However, Netanyahu would do "the right thing".

Netanyahu now said: "I think there is a lot of common ground, because we both want a future in which this area is not used for terrorist attacks." Much has already been achieved in this respect. A lot of infrastructure is also to be built there for both Israel and its Palestinian neighbors.

Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 4.30 a.m.

Switzerland calls for unhindered humanitarian aid in Gaza

Switzerland has called on the Israeli authorities to ensure unhindered access for humanitarian aid in Gaza. Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis co-signed a ministerial declaration initiated by the United Kingdom. Among other things, it calls for international non-governmental organizations to be able to operate in the Gaza Strip, as the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) wrote on its website. The United Nations and its partners should also be able to continue their work.

The people of Gaza cannot wait. More than a million civilians are in need of shelter. Aid has increased but is still far below what’s needed. Alongside nine other countries, the UK has today issued a statement on the action required to end this winter humanitarian crisis.

— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) December 30, 2025

4 a.m.

USA defends Israel's recognition of Somaliland as a state

The USA has defended Israel against criticism of its recognition of the East African republic of Somaliland as an independent state. At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York on the subject, the US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, Tammy Bruce, accused the Council members of double standards. Several countries had "unilaterally" recognized a "non-existent Palestinian state" at the beginning of the year without an emergency meeting having been convened.

"Israel has the same right to diplomatic relations as any other sovereign state," Bruce said. Last Friday, Israel became the first country in the world to recognize the Republic of Somaliland as a sovereign state. Somaliland, a Muslim region in northern Somalia with only a few million inhabitants, has been virtually independent for more than three decades. Israel's recognition of the region as a sovereign state came shortly before Somalia takes over the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council.

Somalia condemned Israel's move at the Security Council meeting as an attack on its territorial integrity. The Somaliland region is not legally authorized to enter into international agreements without the government in Mogadishu. In response to the USA's comparison with the recognition of a Palestinian state, including by some Council members, the Slovenian representative said that this was an illegally occupied territory. Somaliland, on the other hand, was part of a UN member state. Its recognition violated the UN Charter.

The double standards and "wrong focus" of the UN Security Council distracted from its task of maintaining international peace and security, argued the deputy UN ambassador of the USA. Her country announced that it would not recognize Somaliland as an independent state. There is no change in US policy in this regard, Bruce added.

3.40 am

Trump threatens Iran with military attacks

US President Donald Trump supports Israeli attacks on Iran if the country rejects an agreement and continues its missile and nuclear programs. He is in favor of a strike if Iran continues to build missiles, Trump said at a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. In the Republican's view, intervention is even more urgent if diplomatic attempts fail and Iran continues its nuclear program. "We will do it immediately," he said about possible attacks in this case, raising the prospect of US involvement. Shortly beforehand, Trump had said that Iran would be hit hard if Tehran rearmed.

A key adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei wrote in a post on Platform X that Iran's missile capacity and defense could not be limited and did not need permission. Ali Shamkhani warned: "Any aggression will be met with an immediate harsh response that is beyond the imagination of its planners."

Israel waged war against Iran for twelve days in June and bombed key nuclear facilities together with the USA. The basic conflict between the arch-enemies continues despite a ceasefire - a diplomatic solution is not in sight. Recently, there have been increasing reports in both countries about a possible restart of the war. According to Israeli information, Tehran is working intensively on rebuilding its missile arsenal, which the Jewish state sees as a major threat, as does the Iranian nuclear program.

Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 3:29 a.m.

UN chief Guterres sees the world at a crossroads at the turn of the year

In the face of wars and climate change, UN Secretary-General António Guterres sees the world at a crossroads at the turn of the year. "Chaos and uncertainty surround us. Division. Violence. Climate collapse. And systematic violations of international law," he says in his New Year's message for 2026. "A safer world starts with investing more in the fight against poverty and less in wars."

Let’s resolve to get our priorities straight in 2026.

Let’s invest more in fighting poverty & less in fighting wars.

Let’s heal the planet & secure a future of peace & justice.

Let’s rise together:

For justice, humanity & peace.

I wish you all a peaceful #NewYear! pic.twitter.com/usVW5voGud

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) December 29, 2025

Guterres went on to say that people everywhere were asking themselves whether political leaders were still listening and willing to act. The extent of human suffering is devastating. According to the data, more than a quarter of humanity lives in conflict-affected areas. More than 200 million people worldwide need humanitarian aid.

At the same time, global military spending had risen to 2.7 trillion dollars - 13 times higher than development aid spending, said Guterres. The amount of military expenditure corresponds to the gross domestic product of the continent of Africa. If current trends continue, it would even increase to 6.6 trillion dollars by 2035.

"It is clear that the world has the resources to improve lives, heal the planet and secure a future of peace and justice," said Guterres. "Our future depends on our collective courage to act."

7.56pm

Trump reiterates call for Hamas disarmament at meeting with Netanyahu

US President Donald Trump received Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his private residence Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Monday for talks on the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. At the start of the meeting, Trump reiterated his call for the disarmament of the radical Islamic organization Hamas. "There must be a disarmament of Hamas," said the US President.

The radical Islamic Palestinian organization had stressed shortly beforehand that it would not give up its weapons. The disarmament of Hamas is a central component of the second phase of the US ceasefire plan for the Gaza Strip.

According to Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian, Netanyahu also wants to discuss the "danger" posed by Iran to the Middle East and the USA at the meeting in Florida, in addition to the Gaza plan. In recent weeks, Israeli media and politicians have repeatedly pointed out that Iran is once again expanding its military capabilities, which had been significantly reduced following the 12-day war with Israel in June.

3.45 p.m.

Winter storm exacerbates suffering of people in Gaza

A severe winter storm has exacerbated the suffering of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the largely war-torn Gaza Strip.

Water penetrated many of the tents in which the people, weakened after two years of war, seek shelter from the cold and rain. Some were torn apart by squalls, as the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. According to a report by the Arabic news channel Al Jazeera, tents near the beach were destroyed by high waves. According to the civil defense, one woman and one child were killed.

DON'T STOP TALKING ABOUT GAZA! pic.twitter.com/3CPQhUL17D

— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) December 28, 2025

"The water entered our tent before sunrise. Within minutes, everything was flooded - the mattresses, the blankets and our children's clothes," Khaled Abu Labda told the German Press Agency (dpa). "We spent the rest of the night standing in the cold because we had nowhere else to go," lamented the 41-year-old from Deir al-Balah, which is located in the central part of the Gaza Strip. Aisha al-Najar expressed her despair: "We survived months of bombing, but now the rain is killing us."

12.28 pm

Deadline expires: concern about new escalation in Lebanon

As the year draws to a close, Lebanon is heading towards a phase of uncertainty with a possible new escalation. On December 31, i.e. Wednesday of this week, an important deadline expires for the requested disarmament of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia. Following pressure from the USA and Israel, the Lebanese government has also agreed to complete the first important phase of disarmament by the end of the year.

However, no concrete steps in this direction are visible. Hezbollah leader Naim Kassim described the plans as a "disarmament project" by the USA and Israel. "We will not surrender and we will defend our country," said Kassim in a televised speech. Unlike Israel, Hezbollah had adhered to the terms of the current ceasefire.

Hezbollah and Israel fought a parallel war after the start of the Gaza War in October 2023, in which Hezbollah and its most important supporter Iran were severely weakened. Despite a ceasefire now in place, Israel's military attacks Lebanon almost daily with the declared aim of reducing the threat posed by the militia. Since the ceasefire came into force, more than 300 people have been killed in Lebanon, including more than 100 civilians, according to UN figures.

4.30 a.m.

Netanyahu with Trump in Florida

US President Donald Trump will speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, Monday, about the future of the Gaza Strip. Their meeting will focus on the next steps in the plan promoted by the USA to permanently end the war in Gaza. The meeting at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida is already the sixth meeting between the politicians this year.

Monday, December 29, 2025, 4:21 a.m.

Huthi: Israel's presence in Somaliland would be a military target

The leader of the Iran-backed Houthi militia threatens Israel following its recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state. "Any Israeli presence in Somaliland is considered a military target by our forces as it is an aggression against Somalia and Yemen and a threat to the security of the region," Abdul-Malik al-Huthi said in a statement. On Friday, Israel became the first country in the world to recognize the Republic of Somaliland as a sovereign state. Somalia firmly rejects the recognition of its breakaway region in the north.

The East African republic, which has only a few million inhabitants, has been practically independent for more than three decades. Israeli media pointed out that Somaliland is located not far from the strategically important Bab al-Mandab strait, where the Houthi militia has repeatedly attacked international merchant ships with suspected links to Israel. The Times of Israel wrote that access to Somaliland would make it easier for Israel to carry out attacks against the militia and monitor them.

After the start of the Gaza war, the Houthi militia repeatedly attacked Israel directly with missiles and drones in solidarity with the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas. In return, Israel's air force attacked militia targets 2,000 kilometers away in Yemen. Since the beginning of the ceasefire in Gaza on October 10, the Houthi rebels have also kept their guns silent. Following Israel's recognition of Somaliland as a state, their leader has now declared that they will not accept part of Somalia serving as a base for the enemy Israel.

The UN Security Council convenes for an emergency meeting today over Israel's move. Previously, 21 predominantly Muslim countries had issued a joint statement warning of the "grave consequences" of Israel's unprecedented actions for "peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea" and for international security.

Friday, December 26, 2025 - 1:45 a.m.

Another deadly incident in the Gaza Strip

Israel's military says it has again killed two Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. "Two terrorists" had crossed the so-called yellow line in the south of the sealed-off coastal strip and approached Israeli troops, the army announced. The two had posed "an immediate threat" and were therefore "eliminated" after being identified. As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israeli troops would remain stationed in the south of the Gaza Strip to eliminate immediate threats.

Wednesday, December 24, 2025, 7:56 p.m.

Criticism of the creation of 19 new settlements in the West Bank

The construction of 19 new settlements in the West Bank approved by the Israeli cabinet has met with fierce criticism from Western states. A group of states, including Germany, condemned the move as a violation of international law. It also risks exacerbating instability in the region and undermining efforts to end the Gaza war, as well as damaging the prospects for long-term peace and security in the entire region.

In the declaration published by the Federal Foreign Office and others, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the UK and Germany call on Israel to reverse the decision.

Tuesday, December 23, 2025, 0:10 a.m.

Heavy fighting between Syrian troops and Kurdish fighters

Government troops and Kurdish fighters have engaged in heavy fighting in the Syrian city of Aleppo. Residents reported to the German Press Agency that heavy weapons had been used. The state news agency Sana reported, citing the Interior Ministry, that two civilians had been killed and at least 15 others injured. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by the Kurdish militia YPG, spoke of one woman killed and 17 other civilians injured.

The SDF had attacked security force positions, the Ministry of Defense in Damascus said. It rejected accusations by the SDF that the government forces had attacked their positions. The army had merely reacted to the fire.

The SDF stated that pro-government fighters had attacked a checkpoint. They described the incident as part of an "uncontrolled escalation" that threatened the lives of civilians and the security of the entire city, and blamed the government in Damascus.

According to eyewitnesses, dozens of people had left the area out of fear of further escalation. The state news agency reported that an ambulance had also come under fire. Several people were injured.

7.45 p.m.

Report: US government sends Gaza plan to potential investors

The US government has apparently sent a comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip to potential investors. This was reported by the Wall Street Journal, citing a 32-page presentation from government circles. In it, President Donald Trump's administration sets out how it intends to rebuild the Gaza Strip. The plan is to involve the USA, Egypt, Turkey and private investors. Business people close to Trump are also said to have expressed interest. The total costs are estimated at more than 100 billion US dollars.

According to the paper, a multi-stage approach is planned. Initially, war damage is to be repaired and unexploded ordnance cleared, while the population is to be temporarily housed in temporary accommodation. In a second phase, reconstruction is to begin, with a focus on housing, schools and medical facilities. There are also plans to move the seat of government from Gaza City to Rafah.

In a further step, luxury resorts, a high-speed rail network and an AI-supported power grid are to be built, among other things. The US government and its associated stakeholders hope that this will generate long-term revenue, particularly from the tourism sector.

1.46 pm

Israeli government approves 19 new settlements in the West Bank

The number of controversial Israeli settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank is set to increase further: The Israeli security cabinet has approved the establishment of 19 new settlements. A corresponding proposal by the far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz has been accepted by the Security Cabinet, Smotrich's office announced on Sunday. The number of settlements approved in the Palestinian territory over the past three years has thus risen to 69.

According to Smotrich, the renewed expansion of Israeli settlement construction is intended to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. The creation of a separate state for the Palestinians is supported by numerous states around the world. However, the right-wing Israeli government sees a Palestinian state as a threat to Israel's security.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the end of the Six-Day War in 1967. Around three million Palestinians and around 500,000 Israelis live in the area. According to international law, all Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory are illegal. Some outposts are also considered illegal under Israeli law, but many of them have been legalized by the Israeli authorities.

Sunday, December 21, 2025 - 8:00 a.m.

Gaza peace plan stalls - Hamas disarmament as an obstacle

The upcoming second phase of US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan provides for the disarmament of Hamas and the establishment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF). However, the terrorist organization strictly refuses to lay down its weapons.

According to a survey by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Opinion Research in Ramallah, around 70 percent of Palestinians reject the disarmament of Hamas envisaged in Trump's peace plan. The rejection rate is particularly high in the West Bank at 80 percent, while it is 55 percent in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

Although the humanitarian situation in the blockaded area has improved somewhat since the ceasefire, the overall situation remains precarious. According to the latest information from the UN emergency aid office Ocha, more than 80 percent of the buildings in the coastal strip on the Mediterranean have been destroyed or damaged. Many people who have lost their homes are still living in tent camps and are exposed to the winter weather.

It is unclear how the next phase will be implemented. And it is also unclear whether the situation can be stabilized permanently.

Friday, December 19, 2025 - 3:13 pm

No more famine in Gaza - but the crisis continues

According to experts, the Gaza Strip is no longer affected by famine. However, despite the peace plan and increased aid deliveries, the situation in the area remains critical, according to the IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) initiative, which monitors food crises around the world. Israel rejected the report.

According to the initiative, the situation is better than before due to the peace plan that came into force in October. The armed conflict had decreased significantly. The supply of humanitarian and commercial food supplies had improved.

Nevertheless, the population of the Gaza Strip is still severely affected by acute malnutrition and food insecurity, the initiative emphasized: "Although humanitarian aid, including food aid, has increased, only the most basic needs for survival are being met."

Israel's Foreign Ministry criticized the new report as "distorted". It ignores the fact that an average of between 600 and 800 trucks carrying aid are currently entering the Gaza Strip every day. 600 trucks a day are part of the ceasefire agreement that has been in place for more than two months.

Cogat, the Israeli authority responsible for Palestinian affairs, said: "These quantities exceed the food needs of the population in the Gaza Strip". It spoke of "serious gaps in the data collection" of the IPC report. There is no acute food insecurity in the Gaza Strip. Israel had also declared in the summer after the publication of the IPC report at the time that there was no famine in Gaza.

7.08 pm

Israel signs treaty with Berlin on missile defense expansion

According to Israeli sources, Germany and Israel have signed a contract for the expansion of the Arrow 3 missile defense system. This was announced by Israel's Foreign Ministry. The German parliament's budget committee had previously approved the funding on Wednesday. Israel's Ministry of Defense spoke of costs amounting to the equivalent of around 2.6 billion euros. The signing ceremony took place in Germany.

The construction of the system procured in Israel is a response to the threat posed by Russia. The defense system can destroy enemy missiles outside the atmosphere in early space with a direct hit - a capability that does not yet exist in the Bundeswehr.

According to Israeli sources, the total value of the two agreements amounts to the equivalent of around 5.7 billion euros. It is the largest arms deal in the history of the Jewish state.

Thursday, December 18, 2025, 4.30 a.m.

Former SVP National Councillor Claudio Zanetti on trial in Hinwil ZH

Former SVP National Councillor Claudio Zanetti will stand trial today, Thursday, at the Hinwil district court in the Zurich Oberland. He has been charged with sharing a post by an Israeli army spokesperson on Platform X. In January 2024, Zanetti re-posted a post by an Israeli army spokesperson. The picture shows a fist with an Israel logo smashing a swastika in Palestine colors. Above it was written "Never again is now, come what may." The background is Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023.

The public prosecutor's office accuses Zanetti of sharing this post without comment and without critical categorization. In doing so, he accepted that the Palestinian ethnic group would be disparaged by equating it with National Socialism. In addition, the picture calls for them to be combated.

Zanetti is to be sentenced for discrimination and incitement to hatred and fined a conditional fine. The public prosecutor's office is demanding 30 daily sentences of 80 francs and a fine of 600 francs.

Party colleagues criticized the criminal proceedings after the charges became known. There was no need to support Zanetti's statements, said SVP cantonal councillor Ueli Bamert in the cantonal parliament in February. "But the tolerance threshold for SVP politicians is obviously lower than for others." The SVP opposes the "politicization of the judiciary".

Monday, December 15, 2025, 4.40 a.m.

22 arrests at protests against concert in Amsterdam

According to the Dutch police, 22 people were arrested on Sunday during protests against a performance by Israeli army cantor Shai Abramson in Amsterdam.

According to the police, several hundred people had gathered in front of the renowned Concertgebouw that evening. The police intervened several times "to keep the demonstrators at a distance and maintain public order". When demonstrators set off smoke bombs, the police reportedly used batons. One officer suffered minor injuries during the clashes, the police said. The 22 people arrested have been charged with breaches of the Assembly Act, possession of fireworks and resisting arrest.

Abramson was originally due to perform at the annual concert for the Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah, at the Concertgebouw on Sunday afternoon. However, there were protests against his appearance because of his links to the Israeli army. His participation in the big concert in the afternoon was subsequently canceled, but he performed at two smaller concerts in the evening.

16:12

UN: Settlement construction in the West Bank significantly expanded

According to the United Nations, significantly more Israeli settlements were built in the West Bank in 2025 than in the previous year. According to a report published by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday, which was made available to the AFP news agency, 47,390 housing units have been developed, approved or publicly tendered since the beginning of the year. In 2024, however, the figure was 26,170.

This year's number of new settlements was therefore the largest since the UN began collecting this annual figure in 2017. According to the UN surveys, an average of 12,815 new housing units were added to Israeli settlements each year from 2017 to 2022.

Commenting on the figures, UN Secretary-General Guterres stated that the development "further consolidates Israel's unlawful occupation". It undermines "the Palestinian people's right to self-determination". Guterres also condemned the "ongoing escalation" in the West Bank. He directed his criticism in particular at operations by the Israeli army. "A large number" of people had been killed, residents displaced and homes and other infrastructure destroyed.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the end of the Six-Day War in 1967. Since the beginning of the Gaza war two years ago, violence has also increased significantly in the West Bank. Since then, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers in the West Bank, according to an AFP census based on data from the Palestinian health authorities. At least 44 Israelis have been killed in the same period, according to authorities.

3.26 pm

Israel kills senior Hamas commander in Gaza Strip

The Israeli military says it has killed a high-ranking Hamas commander in the Gaza Strip. According to the army, the terrorist had been deployed in recent months to restore Hamas' capabilities and weapons production. The exact identity of the terrorist was not disclosed in the announcement.

3.06 p.m.

Abbas holds out the prospect of elections only after the end of the Gaza war

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has dampened hopes for elections that are years overdue. Presidential and parliamentary elections should be held within a year of the end of the Gaza war, Abbas said in Rome on Friday, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

An end to the Gaza war is currently not in sight. The terrorist organization Hamas has not yet fulfilled all the points of the first phase of the Gaza peace plan. It remains to be seen whether the second phase can be successfully implemented. The focus here is on particularly contentious issues such as the disarmament of Hamas.

1.43 pm

Hamas authority: Humanitarian disaster after storm in the Gaza Strip

Following a severe storm with widespread flooding, the authorities in the Gaza Strip are speaking of a "complex humanitarian disaster". According to the report, eleven people have been recovered dead so far. The media office close to the Islamist Hamas also reported that 13 houses collapsed, affecting around 250,000 of the 1.5 million people living in tents or temporary accommodation as a result of the Gaza war. The information cannot currently be independently verified.

Saturday, December 13, 2025 - 11:56 a.m.

Israeli army kills Palestinians at new border with Gaza Strip

Israeli soldiers have killed a Palestinian at the self-defined new border with the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli army, troops identified "two terrorists who had crossed the so-called "yellow line" and posed an immediate threat to them" in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday. One of the two men had been "eliminated" in order to remove the threat. Troops remained stationed in the area as part of the ceasefire agreement to eliminate any immediate threat. Last Sunday, Israel's Chief of General Staff Ejal Zamir declared the so-called "yellow line" to be the new border with the Gaza Strip. This line marks the army's withdrawal position within the framework of the Gaza ceasefire. It is marked by yellow concrete elements and signs.

12.39 pm

Israeli attacks in the south and east of Lebanon

According to Lebanese state media, the Israeli army has carried out attacks in the south and east of Lebanon. The state news agency NNA reported on Friday about Israeli attacks at around a dozen locations, with the targets located up to 30 kilometers from the Israeli border. The Israeli army spoke of attacks against positions of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia, including a training camp.

Friday, December 12, 2025 - 10:09 a.m.

Dead after building collapse in Gaza Strip

According to Palestinian reports, five people were killed by a collapsing building during a storm in the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that the building was housing displaced persons. Several people were injured. According to the Hamas-controlled civil defense, the house is located in the north of the coastal area.

According to Wafa and the Civil Defense, two other Palestinians were killed when a wall collided with a tent camp for displaced persons in the city of Gaza.

According to the Civil Defense, a total of nine people have died in the past 24 hours as a result of the storm "Byron". Among them was a child who died of hypothermia. According to eyewitnesses and reports, storms have also flooded camps for internally displaced persons over the past two days.

Thursday, December 11, 2025, 4:30 a.m.

UN: Israel fires on blue helmets in southern Lebanon

According to the UN peacekeeping force, Israeli soldiers have fired on blue helmets in southern Lebanon. The Unifil soldiers were patrolling along the Blue Line, the border between Israel and Lebanon, when they were shot at by Israeli soldiers in a tank, the observer mission said. The Israeli military stated that the shots were not aimed at the peacekeepers, but at a suspect.

A ten-round machine gun salvo was fired over the convoy, according to the UN statement. According to the UN, four further volleys of ten shots each hit the surrounding area. Both the blue helmets and the tank of the Israeli armed forces were in Lebanese territory at the time of the incident. There were no casualties.

The Israeli military had been informed in advance of the location and timing of the patrol. Unifil called on the Israeli forces to stop their "aggressive behavior" and attacks on and near the peacekeepers.

An Israeli army statement on the incident said that soldiers had identified a suspect who had approached an Israeli base. Warning shots were fired at him. "During the warning fire, Unifil forces contacted the Israeli army and said they had heard gunfire in their direction," it continued. "They were made aware that the fire was not fired at them or in their direction, but at the approaching threat in the area." The military emphasized that it was not taking action against UN troops and would continue to cooperate fully with their representatives.

Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 1:07 a.m.

Israel flies attacks in Lebanon again

The Israeli air force says it has once again attacked positions of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon. Among other things, a training ground of the Hezbollah elite unit Radwan was attacked, the army announced at night. The site had been used to plan and carry out terrorist attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians. Military facilities and a Hezbollah rocket launching pad were also attacked. There was initially no information about possible casualties.

"The targets attacked and the military exercises in preparation for activities against the State of Israel constitute a violation of the agreements between Israel and Lebanon and a threat to the State of Israel", the army statement said. Israel and the Hezbollah militia agreed on a ceasefire in November 2024 after more than a year of mutual shelling. Since then, both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the agreement.

Part of the ceasefire deal is the disarmament of Hezbollah - a politically sensitive process in Lebanon that has been pursued unsuccessfully for decades. Officially, Israel and its northern neighbor are in a state of war. Lebanon's president has recently expressed openness to new negotiations with Israel.

Monday, December 8, 2025, 0:10 a.m.

Hamas signals willingness to stockpile weapons

According to a leading official, Hamas is prepared to store its weapons as part of the ceasefire with Israel. A member of the political decision-making body of the militant Islamist organization, Bassem Naim, said on Sunday in Doha that they were open to a comprehensive approach in order to avoid further escalation.

Naim explained that Hamas was sticking to its right to resistance, but was prepared to lay down its arms as part of a process to establish a Palestinian state. He did not go into much detail about what this might look like in concrete terms, but suggested a long-term ceasefire of five to ten years to enable talks.

"This time must be used seriously and comprehensively," he said, adding that Hamas was very open-minded regarding the handling of its weapons. "We can talk about freezing, storing or laying them down." The prerequisite is that the ceasefire holds.

20:02

Israel's Chief of Staff declares new border with Gaza Strip

Israel's Chief of General Staff Ejal Zamir has declared the withdrawal line of the troops in the Gaza Strip to be a new border. According to army sources, Zamir said during a troop visit to the northern Gaza Strip that the so-called "yellow line" was a new border, a front line of defense for the Israeli border communities and at the same time a line of attack. Israel would not allow the Islamist Hamas to re-establish itself in the Gaza Strip. "We will respond to any attempt to threaten our armed forces with the utmost severity," he said.

The Israeli army has withdrawn behind the "yellow line" as part of an agreed ceasefire with Hamas. It extends between 1.5 and 6.5 kilometers into the coastal strip. According to various sources, Israel now controls just over half of the area.

Before the new border was drawn, the Gaza Strip was around 41 kilometers long and between 6 and 12 kilometers wide - an area slightly smaller than the city of Cologne. More than two million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip.

3.10 p.m.

Qatar defends contacts with Hamas

Qatar has defended its contacts with the Islamist Hamas. "This communication has led to ceasefires, to the release of hostages, to an alleviation of suffering for the people" in the Gaza Strip, said Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha. Qatar's relations with Hamas began in 2012 at the request of the USA, he said at the Doha Forum, an annual diplomatic conference.

Qatar has been home to Hamas' political office abroad since 2012. According to reports, the USA pushed for this agreement at the time - with Israel's acquiescence. The idea is also said to have been to be able to negotiate better with the Hamas leadership via the mediator Qatar than if they were to be accommodated in Iran, for example. In recent decades, the USA has repeatedly relied on Qatar as a mediator in conflicts with Hamas or with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The head of government today rejected the claim that Qatar had financed Hamas. "The aid and funding that flowed to Hamas according to the allegations went to the people of Gaza under a very transparent process." The USA had known about this and Israel had facilitated these payments itself, he said.

Qatar has financed the Gaza Strip for years, including with money for fuel, reconstruction, public sector salaries and support for people living in poverty. In addition to humanitarian and development aid, the emirate was also interested in gaining diplomatic influence and strengthening Islamist movements in the region.

Following the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, the New York Times reported that these payments also effectively helped to maintain and consolidate Hamas' power. These payments, worth billions, were explicitly approved and supported by Israel with the aim of stabilizing Gaza and keeping Hamas quiet.

A report by Israel's domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet this year stated that the transfer of Qatari funds and their forwarding to the military wing of Hamas and its build-up of forces were among the key factors that enabled the terrorist organization to prepare for the attack on 7 October 2023. Qatar denies this.

13:23

Netanyahu speaks of "opportunities for peace" in the Middle East

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken of "opportunities for peace" in the region, but at the same time continued to reject an independent Palestinian state. "The Iranian axis has been shattered," said Netanyahu after a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) in Jerusalem, referring to the war in the region over the past two years.

"We believe that there is a way to advance a more comprehensive peace with the Arab states, and also a way to create a functioning peace with our Palestinian neighbors," Netanyahu continued. "But we will not create a state on our doorstep that is dedicated to our destruction."

Merz said that they were "working towards the goal of a new Middle East" in which the state of Israel would also be recognized. "We are convinced that the prospect of establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel probably offers the best prospects for this future."

However, a two-state solution can only be achieved through negotiations and it will "come at the end of these negotiations". However, such negotiations are "necessary now". A two-state solution means that Israel and an independent Palestinian state exist peacefully side by side.

Netanyahu said that the first phase of US President Donald Trump's Gaza plan was "almost over" and that the body of a hostage was still in the Gaza Strip. Disarming the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas was a prerequisite for a peaceful settlement, he emphasized with a view to further action. The second phase of the ceasefire plan would be more difficult than the first.

Netanyahu also warned of a dangerous resurgence of anti-Semitism around the world. Despite the atrocities committed by Hamas against civilians on 7 October 2023, flags of the terrorist organization were being carried at demonstrations in international capitals, he lamented. "This is outrageous."

9.41 am

Reports: Netanyahu met Blair secretly on Gaza future

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has secretly met with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, according to media reports. The Times of Israel and Israeli radio reported that the meeting, which took place just over a week ago, was about the future of the Gaza Strip.

US President Donald Trump's peace plan provides for the establishment of an international "peace council". US President Trump himself wants to be the head of this council. Blair is also to be involved. A transitional government made up of non-political Palestinian experts is also planned.

The Israeli Kan channel reported that Blair had also met Netanyahu in Israel during a visit to the region, alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Netanyahu's office initially did not comment on the reports.

According to Kan, Blair is said to have argued during the meeting that Abbas' Palestinian Authority should initially rule parts of the Gaza Strip. If this "pilot project" succeeds, it should be extended to other areas. New elections in the Palestinian territories are also planned. Blair is coordinating very closely with Arab states and the USA and is expected back in the region shortly, Kan added.

According to the Times of Israel, however, a source "familiar with the matter" denied the planned involvement of the Palestinian Authority in the future administration of the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu's right-wing religious government vehemently rejects such involvement officially. In addition, the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas refuses to disarm as envisaged in Trump's plan.

6.48 am

Merz: Germany always stands by Israel's side

At the start of his first visit to Israel as Federal Chancellor, Friedrich Merz reaffirmed Germany's special responsibility for the Jewish state's right to exist. "We will always stand by the side of this country," he said at a meeting with Israeli President Izchak Herzog in Jerusalem. "I am aware of the obligation that every Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany has in this country."

It remains a miracle for him personally that the friendship between Germany and Israel could be built up and deepened to this day after the crimes of the Holocaust. German solidarity with Israel is now particularly important "after the terrible massacre" by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

However, Merz also emphasized that he was coming to Israel at a time that "could hardly be more complicated". The actions of the Israeli army in the Gaza war had presented Germany with "a number of dilemmas". Germany had responded to these, he said, apparently also with regard to the temporary restriction on arms exports to Israel, which has since been lifted.

However, the Chancellor emphasized that "we still have no fundamental differences." Israel had the right to defend itself, it was Hamas that had started the war. If it laid down its weapons, the war would be over. "Then there will be a future for the region, there will also be a future for Gaza."

He reaffirmed the goal of a two-state solution in the Middle East. This means that Israel and an independent Palestinian state should exist peacefully side by side.

Sunday, December 7, 6:45 a.m.

Herzog: Israel decides on Netanyahu pardon itself

Israeli President Izchak Herzog rejects US President Donald Trump's demand for a pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been accused of corruption. "I respect the friendship and the opinion of President Trump", Herzog told the US news portal "Politico", referring to Trump's merit in retrieving the hostages from the Gaza Strip. "But Israel is of course a sovereign country, and we fully respect the Israeli legal system and its requirements," Herzog emphasized.

Head of government Netanyahu has been on trial for corruption for more than five years. He has been charged with fraud, breach of trust and bribery. Trump had repeatedly called on Herzog to pardon Netanyahu. He respects the independence of the Israeli judiciary, but believes that the charges against Netanyahu are politically motivated and unjustified, according to a letter to Israel's president signed by Trump and recently published by Herzog's office. Trump had also made the demand during a visit to Israel's parliament in October.

Last weekend, Netanyahu then officially asked Herzog himself for a pardon. Herzog told the US news portal that there is now a process underway, including through the Ministry of Justice and his office's legal advisory team. "This is certainly an extraordinary request, and in dealing with it I will consider above all what is in the best interests of the Israeli people. The welfare of the Israeli people is my first, second and third priority," said the Israeli President before his departure for a visit to New York.

Friday, December 6, 2025 1:12 p.m.

Palestinians: Three dead in Israeli attacks

According to Palestinian reports, Israel's military has killed three Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip despite the current ceasefire. Three other people were injured in the drone attack on a group of civilians west of Beit Lahia, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, citing medical circles.

The Israeli army announced that "in two separate incidents, several terrorists had crossed the yellow line and posed an immediate threat". The troops had therefore opened fire and "eliminated three terrorists" in order to eliminate the threat.

As part of the agreed ceasefire, Israel has withdrawn behind a so-called "yellow line". The statements made by both sides cannot be independently verified at present.

Since the ceasefire began on October 10, there have been repeated fatal incidents in the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli army, operations are still being carried out "to eliminate any immediate threat".

Thursday, December 4, 2025, 4:10 a.m.

Netanyahu to travel to New York despite Mamdani's warning

Despite a warning from New York Mayor-designate Zohran Mamdani, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will travel to the US metropolis. "Of course I will," he said when asked by the "New York Times". Mamdani is one of the fiercest critics of the Israeli government. He accuses it of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip and blames the USA.

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Around a year ago - long before his election victory in November - Mamdani announced that he would have Netanyahu arrested on the basis of the international arrest warrant if he was elected mayor. However, when he was asked about this in September 2025 in interviews before the election as the most promising candidate, he was more reserved. New York must respect international arrest warrants - "whether against Benjamin Netanyahu or Vladimir Putin", he told the online portal "Zeteo" and the broadcaster CNN. He would "examine every legal way" to ensure accountability.

Netanyahu has been the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes in the Gaza Strip since November 2024. Netanyahu firmly rejects the accusations. Israel does not recognize the court and is calling for the arrest warrants to be revoked. The USA does not recognize the court either - and is therefore not obliged to execute arrest warrants issued by The Hague. It seems rather unlikely that a local police force could act like the one in New York, even though the arrest warrants are not recognized in the USA.

Mamdani takes office on January 1. The acid test could then follow in the fall of 2026, when the UN General Assembly takes place in New York - an event that is usually also attended by the Israeli Prime Minister. However, participants generally have extensive diplomatic immunity, which is why they cannot be prosecuted by the local police.

18:36

Lebanon: rapprochement with Israel a long way off

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has put a damper on speculation about a possible rapprochement with neighboring Israel. Lebanon is still a long way from diplomatic normalization or economic relations with Israel, Salam told a small group of journalists on Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously stated that his country wanted to send an envoy to Lebanon to try to lay the foundations for bilateral relations and economic cooperation.

Both Lebanon and Israel had also announced that they would be sending civilian members to a committee previously made up exclusively of military personnel to monitor compliance with the ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. The civilian members took part in a meeting on Wednesday.

The two countries have no diplomatic relations and have officially been at war since 1948. The inclusion of civilian representatives in the ceasefire talks appeared to be a step towards bilateral contacts, which Washington has been pushing for.

21:31

Palestinian journalist allegedly killed in the Gaza Strip

According to a media report, a Palestinian journalist has been killed in an Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip. Another journalist was injured in the drone attack in Chan Junis in the south of the coastal strip, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. An Israeli army spokesperson said on request that the report was being investigated.

According to Wafa, the man killed was the journalist Mahmoud Wadi. According to local media reports, the Palestinian had also used a drone camera while working for various media outlets.

According to information from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), more than 200 journalists have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the Gaza war more than two years ago.

Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 4:52 p.m.

Netanyahu calls for buffer zone up to Damascus

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expects Syria to establish a "demilitarized buffer zone" extending from the capital Damascus to the Golan Heights annexed by Israel.

Netanyahu said this in a video message while visiting soldiers in a clinic who had recently been injured during an operation in Syria.

Following the fall of former long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad, Israel had deployed soldiers to the UN-controlled buffer zone between the Golan Heights annexed by Israel and Syrian-controlled territory, including the Syrian side of Mount Hermon. Israel's army will remain in this buffer zone "to ensure the security of Israeli citizens", Netanyahu continued. The foothills of the buffer zone are located around 50 kilometers from Damascus.

The Israeli head of government also emphasized that an agreement with Syria was possible. However, the prerequisite would be an understanding of Israel's "principles".

Monday, December 1, 2025, 4:30 a.m.

Wars keep arms manufacturers' tills ringing

In the face of numerous wars and conflicts around the world, the international arms industry has set a new sales record. The world's 100 largest arms manufacturers increased their total revenue from the sale of armaments and military services by 5.9 percent in 2024, adjusted for currency effects, according to a new report by the Stockholm-based peace research institute Sipri. Together, they achieved a turnover of around 679 billion US dollars, the highest figure ever recorded. According to the report, the USA remains the absolute industry leader.

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Sunday, November 30, 2025, 7:02 p.m.

Protests and criticism after Netanyahu's request for clemency in Israel

A request by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been charged with corruption, for a pardon has sparked widespread criticism and protests in Israel. Demonstrators gathered in front of President Izchak Herzog's house on Sunday to protest against the possibility of a pardon from the head of state, according to Israeli media reports. Holding a bunch of bananas, they expressed their view that Israel was degenerating into a banana republic.

The opposition also rejected a pardon for Netanyahu. "He cannot be granted a pardon without him admitting his guilt, showing remorse and immediately withdrawing from political life," said opposition leader Jair Lapid. The Movement for Good Governance in Israel said that pardoning a head of government charged with serious offenses such as fraud and embezzlement would send a clear signal that there are citizens who are above the law.

Netanyahu, who has been at war with the country's judiciary for years, argued that his pardon would help unite the country in a difficult period. He also criticized the fact that he has to appear in court three times a week and is therefore hindered in his leadership of the country. US President Donald Trump had already called for Netanyahu to be pardoned a few weeks ago.

Legal experts say that the request for clemency cannot stop the trial against Netanyahu. "It's impossible," said Emi Palmor, former director general of the Ministry of Justice. "You can't claim to be innocent while the trial is going on and then go to the president and ask him to intervene," she said. The only way to stop the trial is to ask the attorney general to stay the proceedings, she said.

22:17

Iranian Revolutionary Guards vow revenge on Israel for slain Hezbollah military chief

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have vowed revenge for the killing of Hezbollah military chief Haytham Ali Tabatabai by the Israeli army. "The right of the Axis of Resistance and Lebanese Hezbollah to avenge the blood of the brave fighters of Islam is unquestionable," the Revolutionary Guards declared on Monday. They are the most important military and financial supporter of the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

The Israeli army killed Tabatabai on Sunday in an airstrike in Beirut. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, a total of five people were killed and 28 others injured in the attack. According to the Israeli army, four other Hezbollah fighters were killed alongside Tabatabai.

The military chief is the highest-ranking Hezbollah representative to fall victim to an Israeli attack since the ceasefire began a year ago. According to the Israeli government, Tabatabai was responsible for rebuilding and rearming the organization. Hundreds of Hezbollah supporters attended his funeral in Beirut.

Iran does not recognize Israel and supports radical Islamic groups in the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The declared aim of the "Axis of Resistance" led by Iran and directed against Israel and the USA is the destruction of Israel.

Monday, 24.11.2025, 21:08

Controversial Gaza Foundation GHF ceases work in Gaza

The controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is supported by the USA and Israel, is finally ending its work in the Gaza Strip six weeks after the start of the ceasefire. After distributing more than 187 million meals to residents of the coastal strip, the foundation is ending its work, the organization announced. It has proven "that there is a better way to provide aid to the people of Gaza", said GHF CEO John Acree.

The foundation has been in talks for weeks with international organizations and the US-led Civil Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) in southern Israel, which is supposed to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. "It is clear that they will adopt and expand the model tested by the GHF," Acree reportedly said.

The GHF had begun its operation in the sealed-off coastal area in May after an almost three-month-long Israeli blockade on aid deliveries. At the time, Israel accused the Islamist Hamas of stealing humanitarian aid. The GHF was intended as a means of circumventing this, as well as an alternative for other aid organizations that Israel is critical of. During the entire four-and-a-half-month operation, not a single aid truck belonging to the foundation was looted, according to the GHF statement. However, there were repeated reports of fatal incidents near the distribution points operated by the GHF.

Hamas welcomed the end of the GHF's operation. It had collaborated with Israel and used a distribution mechanism that was "completely detached from humanitarian principles", according to the terrorist organization's statement. This had created "dangerous and degrading conditions" for the starving Palestinian population.

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